Kona Death 12/31/99

A 56-year old Kona man died Friday morning (December 31, 1999) following a one-vehicle accident that occurred in a private driveway off Alii Drive across from the “Painted Church” in Kahaluu, Keauhou, Kona.

The victim was identified as a Wayne Ako of a Kailua-Kona address.

Responding to a 10:44 a.m. accident call, police officers determined that the victim was driving his 1975 Ford pickup truck into a private driveway when it ran into the side of a residence at that location.

The victim, the lone occupant of the vehicle, was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:38 a.m.

Family members said the victim had a history of heart problems and the accident was a possible result of a heart attack.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Because the accident occurred on private property, it is not considered a “traffic accident” and was not counted with the number of traffic fatalities that occurred on the Big Island.

The current number of traffic fatalities remains at 31 this year, compared to 44 last year.